Diversity and Inclusion

It is our primary goal to create a conference with diverse voices that addresses the subject of fat activism from an intentionally intersectional perspective. In consultation with people from communities including People of Color, Disabled People, Queer and Trans people, and people from various income levels, ages, and those inside and outside of academia we made the decisions outlined below, which we offer in the interest of transparency.

We are certain that we have made mistakes and that there are things we can improve. We are also aware that no community is a monolith and that our group of advisers may be missing voices and perspectives. In acknowledgment of that we offer The Suggestion Box for those who may want to share their ideas, comments and criticisms.

Recruit a diverse organizing team

One of the core principals of Intersectional activism is that an event such as this can never be truly intersectional until we have diverse voices at every level of the conference, including the organizing team. We work to recruit an organizing committee of powerful, diverse activists who work in and among the intersections of fat with other oppressions and marginalizations.

Create a diverse group of speakers

Secure representation of communities that are under-represented in fat activism before pursuing speakers who are traditionally over-represented

Invite people who aren’t professional speakers and support them in participation

Invite people who are not in/from the United States

Invite presenters from a wide range of ages and time spent in activism

Avoid tokenism and adding to oppression

Presenters will have complete latitude to choose what to speak about

Include multiple members of communities in an effort to avoid any one person feeling like they must be “the representative” for their entire community

Protect speakers and participants from “trolls” using strict moderation

Create Accessibility, Avoid Classism

Create an online conference so that people don’t have to be able to afford travel, lodging, and food to attend or speak

Create as many ways to participate as possible- cell phone, landline, Skype etc.

Create a pay-what-you-can option

Include recordings of each workshop with the price of registration so that people can listen to them on their own time if they aren’t available during the live workshop, or re-listen to workshops

Have a wide variety of times so that some live workshops are convenient to a wider variety of timezones and schedules

Have presenter hand-outs so that participants may have something to engage them visually while they listen

Create an environment of financial independence and support

Ask participants to pay a fair price for the conference (include a pay-what-you can-option)

Compensate speakers and organizers for their work

Utilize Our Privilege

Moderate comments, spaces, and Q&A to avoid adding to oppression of those who participate

Invite feedback, take full responsibility for the mistakes we make.

Ideas? Comments? Criticisms? Suggestions for other topics/speakers for future events? Please feel free to put them in The Suggestion Box!